Electronics projects for Solar PV

Dave_Fowler

I've just dropped some statistics for the past 22.5 months onto my website if anyone's interested in masses of figures. They run 1st July 2010 to May 21st 2012. I intend to update the figures once a month from now on.

I'm having a problem with the RF remote control of the power plug in the next phase of the electronics project development. I was hoping to use a Maplin remote power plug, but their push-buttons on the remote are the soft conductive rubber 'calculator' style buttons. Does anyone know of a remote control power plug system which has real mechanical 'tactile' switches on the remote?

Dave F

Dave_Fowler

It's been some time since I've had much to report on the electronic circuits I've developed. Retirement is like that - lots of holidays and time to relax . But now as the weather gets colder and nights are drawing in, there's more time to get back to the electronics lab and do some more work.

The latest development is to produce a control unit that works like the 'Immersun'. It does not have all the bells and whistles such as the display and the facility to independently power more than one immersion heater, but does successfully use up excess PV power (up to the point where the immersion heater thermostat turns off when the water reaches maximum temperature).

The cost of the unit runs out at approximately £120 (I say approximately because I've used some low cost parts from my spares store and don't have an overall bill). To construct the unit you would have to build part of the circuit I developed on strip board to show the current direction through the Owl monitor and add on the current control device and filter.

If there is sufficient interest from MSE members, I will be happy to put all the details on my web site (check my profile details); otherwise I'll just file the pencil drawings in my personal archive here and get on with the next project.

Dave F